See how I evaluated our lunch outing the first day when we tried this specific tavern.

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FRESH INGREDIENTS, IMPECCABLE SERVICE, TASTY FOOD.



We are here for a week in Edipsos and in an attempt to find a good restaurant for lunch the first day we arrived, the owner of the 9 Queens Spa Hotel we are staying at, recommended this one .



"PLATANIA" is a corner restaurant nicely decorated with style and character and very near where we are staying these days. The area is also called Platania.

So, we came here for lunch and honestly we did not regret it.



"Platania" serves also as a 'koutouki' as we call it in Greek. We heard that everything is fresh and that it is among the popular ones in the city of Edipsos.

With the word 'koutouki' we mean that the customer can be served Ouzo and Tsipouro and ask for ‘pikilia’ –meaning a variety of smaller portions of different appetizers. I love to have a variety, thus I get the whole picture of what the place has to offer. Of course it serves beer and wine!



When I am out traveling and I want to eat out I always ask for the opinion of locals who certainly know better . I like to recommend different alternatives to all those hundreds who follow my trips and Guides virtually so that they won’t be trapped if they ever visit the same places that I go. I want to spot good ones where customers won’t be ripped off.



I love both Tsipouro and Ouzo but because it was noon I thought to have either wine or beer. We asked to try the house’s local wine and it was fine so we ordered half a kilo of red wine. The cost was just 2 euros.



‘Saganaki’ –grilled cheese was what we were brought first, for 3.50 euros. It was soft like gum as it was grilled. Yummy! We asked for a second portion.

Next we had ‘gavros’ (anchovy) –oven cooked with tomato sauce and garlic. The fish was the catch of the day so it was fresh and flavorsome. The garlic added this extra flavor to it and with the tomato sauce the dish was unbeatable . The cost is 5.00 euros but we had the smaller portion for 3.00.

We had ‘bamies’ –ladies fingers. They were cooked exactly as I have them at home with fresh local ingredients. My husband loved them –I only had a bite as it was my husband’s main dish and he asked for a whole portion. Cost is 4.50 or 2.50 the smaller dish.



I was urged to try the restaurant’s fresh grilled sardines and although I am not that fond of them I thought to give it a try and I did not regret it. In fact I ate them all because they were really fresh and smelled sea! I had them with no oil on top. They were the best I had for years and if I ever come to this restaurant again I will ask to have them again. The whole portion costs 5.30 euros while the smaller one is at 3.00 euros. –Highly recommended!



I had the octopus and ‘tsitsiravla’ greens . I loved the octopus but I did not want to spoil the taste of it so I just had a few greens. I know ‘tsitsiravla’ from Volos but these were not the same thing. They are very different but still nice.



I also tried the house’s grilled liver. It was juicy and tender. It was sprinkled with oregano and the taste was heavenly. I have no idea what the cost of this dish is because it came as a treat from the owner. It is a ‘Must try’ !



Beers vary between 2.30 and 2.80 euros.

Besides seafood the cuisine has other cooked food like ‘Pastitsio’ for 6.00 the portion, Stuffed tomatoes ‘Gemista’ for 4.50 euros.

The other popular dish of the house is ‘Melintzana ragou’ –aubergine.

The cost is 4 .50 euros.



All this time that we were enjoying our lunch we noticed that the other side was crowded with customers so I was assured that Platania is indeed popular. I can imagine how busy it can be during weekends or in high season. It is a low season now and a weekday! Several men were sitting inside because it functions as a Café as well. (In other words it is like 3 in one)!



I found the food fresh and tasty, the variety interesting and the service impeccable. We even asked the owner to join us for a drink and he did. I had the feeling that I was having home-made food here.



I would definitely come here when I visit Edipsos again. Why?

Because of all the above reasons!